Detroit Lions center Frank Ragnow led interior offensive linemen in PFF grade in 2023, followed by the Atlanta Falcons' Chris Lindstrom.

The Detroit Lions have one of the more complete rosters but that doesn’t mean they don’t have needs. Joey Chestnut has to eat dinner after winning a hot dog eating competition, the same way the Lions need to continue to add quality players to their roster.

The positions that Brad Holmes and his staff are expected to be addressing are the interior offensive line, primarily center, as they expect to be without Frank Ragnow as he teeters on his future. The other is cornerback as the Lions pass defense this year was painful to watch at times

Lions center Frank Ragnow said after the NFC Championship Game that he needed some time to figure things out, leading to concerns in Detroit that Ragnow might retire.

Lions QB Jared Goff on contract talks: I love it in Detroit, "would love to be here for a long time" nfl.com/news/lions-qb-… pic.twitter.com/a74JWseu7U

Jared Goff: Loss in NFC title game "gave us a ton of fire" for 2024. nbcsports.com/nfl/profootbal…

Lions QB Jared Goff on contract talks: I love it in Detroit, "would love to be here for a long time" nfl.com/news/lions-qb-… pic.twitter.com/rFurwEemr9

As the 2024 NFL draft nears, the Cleveland Browns are expressing interest in the big-armed Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Joe Milton.

Milton, a transfer from Michigan, got another chance to start this season. He threw for 2,800 yards, 20 touchdowns, and five interceptions. The big appeal to Milton is the sheer velocity he can put on a football with other-worldly arm strength. He will take a visit to Berea before the draft arrives.

The knock on Milton, however, is the lack of accuracy and touch that he throws the football with. A one-speed thrower in one of college football’s most basic offenses, Milton struggled to follow up on what Hendon Hooker put on display the year before with the Volunteers

A year ago, Hendon Hooker was hobbling around the Indiana Convention Center at the NFL Scouting Combine. The Tennessee quarterback was less than three months removed from surgery to repair a torn ACL, and his future as a draft prospect was somewhat uncertain.

The Detroit Lions wound up selecting Hooker in the third round of the 2023 NFL draft with the knowledge that he would not be ready to play right away. That proved true, with Hooker staying on the NFI list deep into the season and then not playing a single snap since he was activated

The Detroit Lions welcomed rookie QB Hendon Hooker onto the practice field for the first time this week. Hooker is finally allowed to throw and get on-field coaching now that he’s designated to be activated from the NFI list.

Head coach Dan Campbell likes what he sees of his young quarterback in the first practices.

“Yeah, look it’s good to get him out there,” Campbell told reporters. “I know he’s excited to be able to feel like he’s now a part of the team from his own perspective. That’s hard when you’re limited to, ‘I’m in meetings and that’s about it. Then I go in rehab.’ So, I know he’s excited to be out there

Nearly one year ago, a Day 3 trade during the 2023 NFL Draft changed the dynamic in the running back room for the Eagles, who acquired D’Andre Swift and a seventh-round draft pick (Moro Ojomo) from the Detroit Lions in exchange for a seventh-round pick in 2023 and a fifth-round draft pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.

The move worked out for everyone involved, as Swift ran for a career-best 1,049 yards and added 39 receptions for 214 yards as a receiver. He totaled six touchdowns and earned his first Pro Bowl selection. For Detroit, Jahmyr Gibbs earned a Pro Bowl nod, quickly establishing himself as one of the best young running backs in the NFL.

The Detroit Lions hosted one of the top cornerback prospects in the 2024 NFL draft on a pre-draft visit on Wednesday. Alabama CB Terrion Arnold was at the team’s training facility in Allen Park to meet with the team.

Arnold is generally projected to be off the board well before the Lions have their first pick at No. 29 overall, but the appeal to Detroit is obvious with Arnold. He’s a smart, physical defender adept at man coverage with good length and exceptional coverage instincts.

Arnold posted a couple of shots inside the Lions locker room to his Instagram story, representing his former Alabama teammates Jahmyr Gibbs and Jameson Williams

Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs was hoping to end his rookie season with a trip to the Super Bowl, but he'll have to settle for going to the Pro Bowl instead.

The Lions players were off on Tuesday, but the team still wound up making a few changes to thr practice squad.

Detroit added two players to the practice squad. Offensive lineman Matt Farniok and running back Jake Funk are now among the practice squad members. Farniok spent a month on the Lions practice squad at the end of the regular season.

To make room for Funk and Farniok, the Lions placed RB Jermar Jefferson on the practice squad injured reserve list. The team also released OLB Raymond Johnson from his latest stint on the Detroit practice squad

A familiar name is back in Detroit after being off the team for a bit. Running back Jermar Jefferson has returned to the Lions, signing on the team’s practice squad.

Jefferson was a 7th-round pick in 2021 by Detroit. He played sparingly as a rookie, gaining 74 yards on 15 carries and scoring twice. Jefferson spent 2022 on Detroit’s practice squad.

He was waived with injured status this August. Ironically, he’s back in Detroit due to an injury for another practice squad running back, Mo Ibrahim

The Arizona Cardinals were missing backup running back Keaontay Ingram over the weekend. He suffered a neck injury that kept him from playing.

He might miss practice time this week.

Per Aaron Wilson, according to the league transaction report, the Cardinals brought in running back Jermar Jefferson for a tryout.

Jefferson was a seventh-round pick of the Detroit Lions in 2021. He played in seven games in 2021, rushing for 74 yards and two touchdowns.

He spent last season on Detroit’s practice squad and was waived with an injury designation in August

D’Andre Swift spent his first three seasons with the Lions before they traded him to the Eagles last year.Nam Y. Huh/AP The Bears agreed to a deal Monday with running back D’Andre Swift in the opening minutes of free agency and will sign him to a three-year, $24 million contract once the new league year begins Wednesday, a source said. It includes $15.3 million guaranteed.Swift, 25, made his first Pro Bowl last season with 1,049 yards and five touchdowns on 229 carries for the Eagles. He spent his first three seasons with the Lions.The Bears will add Swift to a backfield that features Khalil Herbert and Roschon Johnson. Herbert is going into the final season of his rookie contract, and Johnson was a fourth-round pick last year.Swift was a third-round pick out of Georgia and ran for 1,680 yards and 18 touchdowns over his three seasons with the Lions. They traded him to the Eagles for a fourth- and seventh-round pick last year and moved forward with David Montgomery and rookie Jahmyr Gibbs as their primary backs.Swift’s NFL debut in 2020 was notable for the Bears. They opened that season at the Lions and rallied for a 27-23 lead, and Swift dropped what would’ve been the game-winning touchdown pass for Detroit with six seconds left. Related Bears free agent tracker: Pro Bowl RB D’Andre Swift gets 3-year deal

Universal bewilderment from loud media voices met the signing of free agent David Montgomery, and even more exclamatory doubts and darts followed when the Detroit Lions used their first-round pick in the 2023 draft to select Alabama's Jahmyr Gibbs. Lions…

Before David Montgomery hits the field Sunday at 3:00 PM ET on NBC, here are some key insights you should know before you place a bet on his player prop bet markets. Montgomery’s Detroit Lions square off against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Ford Field in the NFC Divisional Round.

National Football League odds courtesy of BetMGM. Odds updated Tuesday at 7:04 PM ET. For a full list of sports betting odds, access USA TODAY Sports Betting Scores Odds Hub.

Bet on David Montgomery and other players at BetMGM

Lions tight end James Mitchell went from being a full participant in Wednesday’s practice to now ruled out for Detroit’s wild card game against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday. He suffered a hand injury during Thursday’s practice session.

Thanks to his social media, it’s clear Mitchell’s injury was not a minor one.

Mitchell’s partner posted on her Instagram story a picture of Mitchell in his hospital bed. His left hand is heavily wrapped after the surgery. Mitchell shared the story on his own social media channels

The final Detroit Lions injury report for wild card weekend is one featuring two surprises at the tight end position. One of them is positive, while the other is an unfortunate development.

The good news: rookie Sam LaPorta is listed as questionable. The rookie tight end is making excellent progress from a knee injury that saw LaPorta leave the field on a cart in the Week 18 win over the Vikings. He participated fully in Friday’s practice.

On the bad news side, James Mitchell has been ruled out with a hand injury. Mitchell went from full participant on Wednesday to limited on Thursday and then no practice on Friday

Suffered hyperextended knee and a bone bruise in Week 18

Lions Pro Bowl TE Sam LaPorta suffered a hyperextended knee and a bone bruise, source said after the MRI. He’s likely to miss some time, but as coach Dan Campbell said, not as bad as it could’ve been. (NFL Network - Ian Rapoport)

FF Today's Take: Campbell went on to say that LaPorta has an "outside chance" to play in the Wild Card Round. Fantasy managers should consider that possibility highly unlikely. In the extreme off-chance he can go, it is highly doubtful he would be very effective. Fantasy managers may remember last season when Detroit received huge contributions down the stretch from Brock Wright and James Mitchell, so no one should be surprised if one of those two players - assuming Wright (hip) can play - fills in nicely for LaPorta and ends up being a good DFS punt.

The Detroit Lions have brought back another one of their own. The team announced on Monday it has re-signed tight end Shane Zylstra.

#Lions re-signed TE Shane Zylstra.

— Detroit Lions (@Lions) March 4, 2024

Zylstra was set to be a free agent. The 27-year-old has been with the Lions since 2021. He missed the entire 2023 season after suffering a major knee injury during training camp, spending the year on injured reserve.

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Lions tight end Shane Zylstra's 2023 season came to an unfortunate end before it began.

The Lions have waived tight end Shane Zylstra with an injury designation, the team announced on Tuesday.

During Friday night’s preseason loss to the Detroit Lions at Ford Field, New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll was caught on camera glaring angrily at special teams coordinator Thomas McGaughey.

The viral moment came after Lions wide receiver Maurice Alexander Jr. fielded a punt and returned it 95 yards to the house. The score and subsequent two-point conversion trimmed the Giants’ lead to 13-11.

Brian Daboll’s at Giants special teams coordinator Thomas McGaughey after that 94-yard punt return for a TD by the Lions. pic.twitter.com/PWEo5Bk9y

Early in the second half of their preseason game on Friday night against the Detroit Lions, the New York Giants allowed a punt to be returned 95 yards for a touchdown by Maurice Alexander.

The Lions then converted a two-point conversion, which narrowed the score to 13-11 and changed the complexion of the game.

MAURICE ALEXANDER JR. HITS THE SPIN CYCLE FOR THE PUNT RETURN TD!pic.twitter.com/Ibd2gtMaLb

— DraftKings (@DraftKings) August 12, 2023

It was not a good start for the Giants’ special teams, a unit that they take great pride in. Head coach Brian Daboll explained what happened after the game

The Detroit Lions roster for the Week 8 visit from the Miami Dolphins was finalized Saturday afternoon. As is becoming customary, the Lions made a series of roster moves to juggle open spots and injured players around.

Without a kicker on the 53-man roster entering the weekend, the Lions signed Michael Badgley from the practice to the active roster. Badgley has been a practice squad elevation in the last two games. He was perfect on his kicks in Dallas in Week 7.

The Lions did elevate two other players. Wide receivers Maurice Alexander and Stanley Berryhill will be active against the Dolphins

This latest edition of the full 7-round Lions mock draft explores a specific theme. This one is about seeing what it might look like if Lions GM Brad Holmes opts to trade up from No. 29 overall in the first round.

It’s an idea worth exploring. Holmes has proven he will aggressively pursue players he really likes; witness the trade up to land Jameson Williams back in the 2022 NFL draft.

That specific deal is a good baseline for what a jump up might cost. In that deal, the Lions traded No. 32, No. 34 and No. 69 overall to the Vikings for No. 12 and No. 46 overall. The trade hypothesized here involves a similar type of compensation.

Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams shows ELITE speed on trick play that goes 42 yards for a touchdown on the opening drive of the NFC Championship in the 2023-24 NFL playoffs

There was a welcome sight at the Detroit Lions training facility in Allen Park on Wednesday. Wide receiver Jameson Williams was an active participant in the day’s practice session.

Williams missed the Lions’ Week 18 win over the Minnesota Vikings while dealing with an ankle injury. He was back at full gallop on Wednesday in advance of Sunday’s postseason matchup with the Los Angeles Rams.

Over his past few games, Williams had taken on an increasing role in the Lions offense. His dynamic speed and physical blocking will be welcome returns to the lineup for the first-ever playoff game in Ford Field

After trading for him as a half-year rental, the Lions are bringing back Donovan Peoples-Jones for 2024.

The Lions first activity of the offseason at wide receiver arrived on Saturday afternoon. Numerous reports indicate that free agent Donovan Peoples-Jones is heading back to Detroit on a one-year contract.

Per Aaron Wilson, it’s a one-year deal worth up to $2 million for Peoples-Jones to return to the Lions. Detroit acquired the 25-year-old from Cleveland at the trade deadline last fall.

In eight games with the Lions, the Detroit native (Cass Tech HS) caught five passes for 58 yards. Despite having experience as a return man in his Browns days, the Lions opted not to utilize Peoples-Jones in that capacity

For Saturday’s game, which kicks off at 8:15 PM ET on NFL Network, bookmakers have issued player props on Donovan Peoples-Jones. Peoples-Jones’ Detroit Lions (9-4) and the Denver Broncos (7-6) hit the field in Week 15 at Ford Field.

National Football League odds courtesy of BetMGM. Odds updated Friday at 10:52 AM ET. For a full list of sports betting odds, access USA TODAY Sports Betting Scores Odds Hub.

Bet on Donovan Peoples-Jones and other players at BetMGM

Over the summer, Detroit Lions fans quickly learned the name Dylan Drummond. The undrafted rookie wide receiver from nearby Eastern Michigan was a training camp and preseason darling, a popular projection to stick on the initial 53-man roster.

Drummond did indeed parlay an impressive summer into a spot in Detroit, albeit on the Lions’ practice squad. And now he’s the latest in a line of recent preseason phenoms to fade away quickly after being replaced by one of his predecessors.

On Wednesday, the Lions signed veteran wideout Tom Kennedy to the practice squad and released Drummond to make room. Kennedy returned after being waived/injured over the summer, ironically a situation that presented Drummond with a bigger opportunity. A free agency visit early in the week convinced the Lions to sign Kennedy and let Drummond go

The NFL’s transaction wire was pretty quiet on the Detroit Lions front over the last few days. But Tuesday’s appearance on the league’s log raises an eyebrow.

Per the official release, the Lions hosted free-agent wide receiver Tom Kennedy for a visit. Yeah, that Tom Kennedy, the one who played for the Lions from 2019-2022 and was a fan favorite for much of his time in Detroit.

Kennedy was waived with injury status during the first week of training camp. He suffered a left arm/shoulder injury. Detroit then waived him from the I.R., which allowed him to try and come back instead of being out all year

Every year during training camp, fans tend to develop a fondness for certain players, known as “camp darlings”. For Lions fans, players like Zach Zenner and Tom Kennedy come to mind, as they have an underdog story that makes them easy to root for. This year, the Detroit Lions have two UDFAs who have exceeded expectations during training camp: wide receiver Dylan Drummond and cornerback Starling Thomas V. These two players have earned the “camp darling” title due to their impressive performance.

Recently, Drummond’s story has gained attention across the country, making him a potential underdog contender for a spot on the roster. Those who have been present at training camp are not surprised, however. Apart from Amon-Ra St. Brown, Drummond has been the most dependable wide receiver during camp, becoming a favorite target for Nate Sudfield while playing with the second and third teams. The coaching staff has certainly taken notice of his impressive performance